"Cold weather itself makes you sick"

Question

Pretty much anyone believes that cold weather can get people sick, but this is only a myth. Colds and flu really do seem more common in the winter but the chill does not get you. Instead, low humidity and being indoors with others make it easier for germs to spread. Dry air dries out the membranes in your nose, so viruses can easily invade. In other words, again, it is germs and not temperature.

Comments

This article explores if cold weather causes colds. It takes on the common myth, yet myth busts it, arguing how cold weather is correlated to colds but doesn't cause. The article uses reliable facts and correlates them, such as how lower Vitamin D can lead to less production and thus more influenza. However, these facts are not fully trustworthy since they come from "research" and no specific reputable source to be fact checked. The article is more focused on symptoms and preventions towards sickness than the actual myth itself, so it is not well written. This article should not be deemed as reputable.

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Well said, I think that always looking into if there is causation or correlation on an issue is a very important trait to look at. I do wonder what other articles said on this question, as well as how trustworthy this source really is. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to look into what else they have claimed on other articles of theirs.

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I think this article isn't the most reliable but its content remains viable and truthful. This article from the mayo clinic would've added sense of credibility to you claim; https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/1-16mayo-clinic-minute-can-cold-weather-cause-a-cold/
I think the main reason we all get sick around this time is because of our proximity to the virus, being indoors most of the time. Prior to reading the article, I wouldn't have guessed humidity is a factor of sickness, but now I understand why a steamy shower can clear my airways temporarily while I'm sick!

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I think the main reason we all get sick around this time is because of our proximity to the virus, spending more time indoors. Before reading the article, I wouldn't have guessed humidity plays a role, but now I understand why a steamy shower can offer temporary relief. The paper delves into the common myth that cold weather causes colds, offering a more nuanced perspective. While it correctly points out a correlation between cold weather and increased illness, it doesn't definitively prove causation. The article cites lower Vitamin D levels as a potential factor, but lacks specific, reputable sources to fully support this claim. Ultimately, the article focuses more on symptoms and prevention than the core myth, making it less effective in addressing the topic. Therefore, it may not be considered a reliable source of information.

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I believe that the article listed in this claim is not the most reliable of sources, though the content within it is still truthful. While the article points out the relation between colder weather and increased illness, it fails to provide sound evidence towards causation. Instead focusing largely on symptoms and prevention options, rather than the core topic, thus making the claims and arguments made within much less effective. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The cold weather itself doesn't cause the common cold... the chances of spreading a respiratory virus go up because more time is spent indoors." Therefore, it is not the cold weather that is directly causing an uptick in viral infections, it is the fact that more people are indoors more often than when the weather is warm. This article did what the one linked in this claim could not, and provided more reasoning behind why there is typically an increase in illness during the winter months.

source:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/1-16mayo-clinic-minute-can-cold-weather-cause-a-cold/

Answer 1

While many people get sick during the colder season, cold weather alone doesn't get you sick. Cold and dry weather does allow viruses to stay alive and reproduce more quickly and causes immune cells to work less effectively. If we were to say that cold weather makes it easier to get sick, then we can say the claim is true but cold weather alone doesn't cause sickness but rather it helps viruses and bacteria spread faster.

article: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/12/17/can-the-cold-really-make-you-sick

Answer 2

The claim is entirely false in itself as sickness is not caused by cold weather. But by viruses and bacteria as cited in the linked article - 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-get-sick-from-the-cold8709721#:~:text=A%20common%20misconception%20is%20that,infections%20in%20the%20colder%20months. - This is all to say it's an old myth that has been used for ages. In saying so we can easily find the true cause through researching any Health site.

Answer 3

This article was written in the past month, by Patty Weasler who is a Nurse and Health Writer, and has valid cited sources. However, your claim does not match the claim in this article. Verywellhealth states that a common misconception is that cold weather causes illness. In reality, it's germs like bacteria and viruses that cause infections. This article says that yes, the cooler months are related to an increase in illness because respiratory droplets move farther and stay longer in the air, dryness weakens the body's ability to defend against germs, indoor gatherings increase contact with germs, and people have lower vitamin D. 

Answer 4

This claim states that just being in cold weather can make you sick. The source provided answers to the claim itself, saying that it is a common misconception and stating a few reasons why. To be sure, I looked at another source from Northwestern Medicine and upon reading the article I was surprised to see a quote saying "Wearing layers during the winter can help prevent physiological conditions that can make you more susceptible to contracting viruses," says Dr. Rajendram. Overall, it seems like going outside when its cold is not going to immediately make you sick every time, but it's best to bundle up and not spend too much time in the cold when you are already sick. 

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick

Answer 5

This claim is misleading and exaggerated because the article debunks the myth that cold weather is the sole cause of illnesses such as the common cold. It explains that it can be a catalyst for a cold, but does not cause it on its own. The main purpose of the article is explaining symptoms and preventions of common colds rather than saying that cold weather causes common colds.

Answer 6

The claim that cold weather makes you sick is false. There is more correlation than causation, meaning that cold weather is correlated with sickness but does not directly cause sickness. Northwestern Medicine published an article that depicted this myth. That article states that people are more prone to sickness as the temperature drops, but this is rather due to being indoors and being in dry air. People tend to stay indoors to avoid the cold, which means being in closer proximity to other people. Not only that, but it lacks exposure to the sun, which can weaken immune systems. Dry winter air and heating inside the house can also dry up your nasal passages. That would cause your nose to be less effective in fighting off viruses as well.

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick#:~:text=Low%20temperatures%20can%20increase%20the,more%20easily%20in%20the%20winter.

Comments

I liked your analysis here. The phrase 'correlation rather than causation' really helped make a strong case. It suggests that while cold weather can play a role in sickness, it doesn't necessarily cause it. I also liked how you included the source from Northwestern Medicine, as they are pretty reputable. They offer another point: dry, indoor environments in cold weather can contribute to the drying of nasal passages, making them more at risk of infection due to close proximity.

Answer 7

"Cold weather itself makes you sick?" I grew up in a culture where I believed that going outside at night while your hair is wet can get you sick or cutting your nails on a Friday night is bad luck. If I were told that going outside when cold can get you sick, I would believe it. As the seasons change and when it starts to become fall and winter, temperatures drop. So that makes people stay inside which leads people to stay inside and that increases the spread of germs. So basically NO, I don't think that the cold weather itself makes individuals sick. The link below gives deeper information on this topic.

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/12/17/can-the-cold-really-make-you-sick

Answer 8

This article was written by a registered nurse of something like 10+ years who is also a health writer, which I figure I can trust reliably. The misconception surrounds the idea that the literal coldness of winter causes people to become ill which has some truth to it, but also doesn't. The article explains that the dryness of the winter seasons lowers the bodys defense, for example the mucus in your nose helps keep germs out, and when it is dry out it causes that mucus to dry out as well. Also, the cold temperatures causes people to spend more time indoors where germs are more able to spread due to small, enclosed spaces. However, the facts given by the source aren't really shown to have come from anywhere which makes me question the reliability of the article. it seems like the point is more likely to urge people to wash their hands and sneeze in their elbows than falsify the claim that the cold causes colds. I would say that there aren't enough reliable sources to prove this true or false because it's based on common sense not research.

Answer 9

Your point is accurate as temperature is not one of the main causes for gaining an illness. While being really cold can weaken your immune system, it is germs that causes illnesses.

https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/do-you-really-get-sick-from-being-cold#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCan%20you%20get%20sick%20from,and%2For%20the%20flu.%E2%80%9D

Answer 10

Based on my research, the idea that cold weather directly makes you sick is not entirely accurately. Cold weather itself doesn't actually cause illness, but it can create conditions that make getting sick more likely. For instance, viruses like those causing the common cold may survive better in colder temperatures. Additionally, cold air can weaken the immune response in our nasal passages, making us more susceptible to infections. Spending more time indoors during winter also increases our exposure to viruses, as we're in closer contact with others. However, it is important to note that viruses, not the cold itself, causes illness.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-does-cold-weather-affect-your-health

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/scientists-finally-figure-out-why-youre-more-likely-to-get-sick-in-cold-weather

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323431